Entertainment

Kirk Franklin, Tasha Cobbs Leonard Are Big Winners at 35th Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Here Are the Winners

Kirk Franklin, winner of six awards at the 35th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards

(CHICAGO, IL) – Well, it’s 2020, and we all have had to make some adjustments. The same was true for the 35th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. The Stellars delivered on it’s usual powerful worship and praise performances via it’s Virtual Special that aired on BET and BETHer on August 23rd.

Led by hosts Kirk Franklin, Jonathan McReynolds, and Koryn Hawthorne, the 35th Anniversary Stellar Gospel Music Awards awarded trophies in 28 categories for the year’s best performances in the genre. 

The big winners of tis years awards are familiar names, with Kirk Franklin winning six awards, including awards for Male Performer of the Year, Contemporary Male Performer of The Year, Album of The Year and Contemporary Album of the Year for “Long Live Love”, and Producer of the year for the same album.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard was also a big winner, taking home the major awards for Artist of the year, and Contemporary Artist of the Year.

Donald Lawrence and the Tri City Singers took home four awards,  including song of the year for “Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus).”

The virtual Awards show included powerful, pre-produced performances by Tamela Mann, Tye Tribbet, Taurean Wells, Koryn Hawthorne, and Travis Greene among many others.

The show’s hosts visited first responder heroes on the front lines of the Coronavirus pandemic in Dallas, Nashville and Chicago, expressing gratitude for their sacrifice and bestowing commemorative Stellar Awards lapel pins in honor of their service. In addition, several healthcare professionals and civic organizations were highlighted for their efforts to combat the deadly pandemic.

One of the more moving moments of the show was a tribute to the late Congressman John Lewis when Cece Winans  performed “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” a perfect tribute to the late Congressman and civil rights icon.  

2019 – 2020
35th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners

Category #1
ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live at Passion City Church); Motown Gospel

Category #2
SONG OF THE YEAR

Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus); Donald Lawrence, William Stokes, Marshon Lewis, Robert Woolridge & Desmond Davis; RCA Inspiration

Category #3
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Kirk Franklin; Long Live Love; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #4
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Le’Andria Johnson; Goshen; RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #5
DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

The Walls Group, Friend in Me, Wall2Wall Entertainment/My Block Records

CATEGORY #6
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Pastor Mike Jr.; Live Free; Black Smoke Worldwide

CATEGORY #7 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Long Live Love; Kirk Franklin; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #8 CHOIR OF THE YEAR

Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers; Goshen; RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #9 PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Kirk Franklin, Ronald Hill & Phil Thornton; Long Live Love; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #10
CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

The Walls Group, Friend in Me, Wall2Wall Entertainment/My Block Records

CATEGORY #11
TRADITIONAL DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers; Bless Somebody Else; Kurt Carr Gospel / RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #12
CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Kirk Franklin; Long Live Love; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #13
TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

John P. Kee; I Made It Out; Entertainment One

CATEGORY #14
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live at Passion City Church); Motown Gospel

CATEGORY #15
TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Le’Andria Johnson; Goshen; RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #16
CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Long Live Love; Kirk Franklin; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #17
TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

I Made It Out; John P. Kee; Entertainment One

CATEGORY #18
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus); Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers; RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #19
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Love Theory; Matt DeLisi; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #20
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR

John P. Kee; I Made It Out; Entertainment One

CATEGORY #21
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR

Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers; Goshen; RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #22
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Rise!; Ben Tankard; BEN-Jamin’ Universal Music

CATEGORY #23
SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Greenleaf: Season 3 (Music from The Original TV Series); Various Artists; Lionsgate Entertainment

CATEGORY #24
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Live Free; Pastor Mike Jr.; Black Smoke Worldwide

CATEGORY #25
YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Gospel Kids; Gospel Kids Present… Christian Soldiers; Tyscot Recordspage4image3343955792

2019 – 2020
35th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners

CATEGORY #26 QUARTET OF THE YEAR

Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Josh Myles; Inspirational Project; Timeless Music

CATEGORY #27
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR

Bless Somebody Else; Derek Blanks; Kurt Carr Gospel / RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #28
PRAISE AND WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Miracle Worker; JJ Hairston; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR WINNERS

MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR

WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta

LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR

WPZS Praise 100.9 FM, Charlotte

MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR

WXHL 89.1, Wilmington

SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR

WJAY 98.3 FM & 1280 AM, Mullins

INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR

U Gospel, http://uGospel.com

GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR

Meta Washington, SiriusXM, Satellite Radio

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